British man died 'in fall' at Dalaman airport in Turkey

Mr Westlake had been in the airport for two days when he boarded his flight home, an inquest has heard

A man died in a fall at a Turkish airport after being asked to leave a flight home, an inquest has heard.

Andrew Westlake from Annfield Plain, had been on holiday with family, but was asked to leave their hotel after a series of rows.

An inquest at Crook in County Durham heard he later boarded his flight home at Dalaman Airport in May 2018.

But he was asked to get off because of his "strange" behaviour and later died in a fall, the hearing heard.

After being told to leave his hotel Mr Westlake went to the Honorary British Consulate in Marmaris and told staff he wanted to go to the airport.

He was given charity money to buy food and to cover his bus fare to the airport, coroner James Thompson was told.

Mr Westlake's partner had been on the flight he was asked to leave, but was not sitting with him and did not see what happened when he was removed from the plane.

Zuhal Mete, a Jet2 customer co-ordinator at the airport, said she met Mr Westlake when he was brought off the aircraft and that he had been at the airport for two days.

She said Mr Westlake looked scared and was "begging" her co-worker, saying "please don't hit me".

Andrew Westlake was asked to leave his flight after behaving "strangely" and died later in a fall, an inquest has heard

The colleague told her Mr Westlake was asked to leave the plane because he had been acting "strangely" and another passenger had "not been happy" about his behaviour.

Ms Mete said that on the plane he had apparently complained about the air conditioning, saying he did not like the smell and it was "dangerous", the inquest heard.

She also said she offered him help to find accommodation, but she did not see him again after he went back into the main terminal.

'Despair'

The coroner heard Mr Westlake then "vaulted" over a barrier near a check out queue and fell at least 30ft (9m).

"He didn't look first, he just jumped," witness Sarah Long said.

"I looked over the barrier and he was laid on his back."

He was taken to hospital by ambulance where he died of multiple injuries consistent with a fall from height.

Mr Thompson concluded Mr Westlake was not intoxicated through drink or drugs and it was unclear why he jumped over the barrier.

He said he was in "despair" and "more likely mentally unwell" but it was not clear he intended to end his life and recorded a narrative verdict.

Mr Thompson said he would write to Jet2 and the Civil Aviation Authority about what more can be done to help passengers who are taken off flights with apparent mental health issues.